Stuffer crimper with cooling fluid wretreatment means



Dec. 8, 1970 r R. K STANLEY I -3,

STUFFER CRIMPER WITH COOLING FLUID PRETREATMENT MEANS Filed Jan. 22,1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 w 2,??? Q 0 F. 1 l5, [5 I /7 Arrow [u Dec. 8, 1970R. K. STANLEY STUFFER CRIMPER WITH COOLING FLUID PRETREA'IMENT MEANSFiled Jan. 22. 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet z awn/me 06597 K STA/v1.5)

United States Patent 3,545,058 STUFFER CRIMPER WITH COOLING FLUIDPRETREATMENT MEANS Robert K. Stanley, Media, Pa., assignor toTechniservice Corporation, Kennett Square, Pa., a corporation ofPennsylvania Continuation-impart of applications Ser. No. 650,762, July3, 1967, and Ser. No. 675,919, Oct. 17, 1967. This application Jan. 22,1968, Ser. No. 703,221

Int. Cl. D02g 1/12 U.S. Cl. 28-1.6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREThis invention provides for fluid cooling of the contacting surfaces ofthe feed rolls of stulfer crimpers, thereby enabling preheated materialto be stuffer crimped without further raising the temperature thereof,and provides for guiding and maintaining a textile strand in a centralposition along the axes of the feed rolls by fluid means, therebypreventing snagging of the strand at the entrance to the stuflingchamber of the crimper.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS My US. Pat. 3,348,283 and mypatent applications Ser. Nos. 650,762, filed July 3, 1967, nowabandoned, and 675,919, filedOct. 17, 1967, now US. Pat. No. 3,491,420granted Jan. 27, 1970, respectively, of which this application is acontinuation-in-part and the specifications of which are incorporatedherein by reference, describe and illustrate a process and apparatus forstuffer crimping textile strands under adiabatic or constant-temperatureconditions, and for improving the desired control of temperature or ofheat exchange between the strand and its surroundings. The presentinvention improves the guiding of textile strand from the nip of thefeed rolls into the crimping apparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention The forcible stuifingof textile material into a chamber wherein it is crimped undercompression tends to increase its temperature, and such localizedtemperature increase may be deleterious to the strand composition or mayimpair the crimping process or crimped product. Such forcihle stuffingof a heated strand in a laterally unsupported condition into theentrance of a stufler crimper subjects the strand to bending forceswhich cause that portion of the strand moving between its point of exitfrom the nip of the nip rolls to the chamber entrance to distort and insome cases to adhere momentarily to one or the other of the rollsurfaces before entering the crimper. This manner of contact between thestrand and the roll surfaces causes the strand to track slightly fromside to side at the entrance of the crimper. Ordinarily, under carefullycontrolled temperature conditions, and dependent on the denier of thestrand and the force of impedance encountered in the crimper, the strandmoves smoothly into the crimper, where it is crimped. However, if thestrand becomes overheated either before or after it enters the feedrolls, the strand becomes more flexible than desirable and it will bendmore readily as well as become more subject to adhesion to the surfacesof the feed rolls. When this happens, the strand loses its somewhat wirycharacteristics and tends to snag against and around the crimperentrance. It then can even begin to wrap itself around the rolls insteadof entering the crimper. The present invention relates to a means andmethod for preventing such disruptive action in the feeding of thestrand into the crimper.

Description of the prior art One method of forced feeding of the strandinto the crimper is to stuff the strand into a crimper wherein one ofthe walls in the form of a grooved wheel surface is continuouslymovable, the crimped strand being moved downwardly by the turning of thewheel, as described in US. Pat. 3,146,512. Another method and apparatusare described in US. Pat. 2,914,810 wherein the crimped strand is drawnoff laterally. In each of the patented methods and apparatuses theproblem to which the present application is directed can arise, but nosolution for the problem is described in the patents. Usually the strandis forced into an elongated fixed chamber having an exit from which iteventually exits. The customary feeding means in all these arrangementsis a pair of nip rolls as already suggested.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is an improvement closelyrelated to the method and apparatus particularly disclosed and claimedin my patent application Ser. No. 675,919, above. In the presentimprovement invention, part of the fluid used to cool the feed rolls isconducted from the main conduit from Which a main stream of fluid isbeing supplied to the surfaces of the rolls into a pair of opposedtubes, or branch conduits, having their outlets located directlyopposite each other adjacent to the strand emerging from the nip of thefeed rolls. The outlets of the tubes are aligned with their longitudinalaxes lying in a line in the same plane, so that the flows of fluidimpinge directly at each other. Each tube directs a stream of fluidparallel to the nip of the rolls and against opposite sides of thestrand. The strand thus is subjected to two opposing streams of fluid.The force of each stream is controlled to balance the force of theopposing stream. By means of this balance of fluid forces, the strandpath is maintained substantially perpendicular to the nip of the rollsand is prevented from tracking traversely on either roll. Additionally,the temperature of the fluid is controlled in the same way as that ofthe main stream of the fluid to maintain the strand and roll surfaces atthe desired constant temperature preferred for practice of the parentinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The above and other objects of thisinvention, together with means and methods for attaining the variousobjects, will be apparent from the following description and theaccompanying diagrams. I

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of the stuffer crimping of textilematerial, with which the present invention is useful;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of apparatus useful according to this invention;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the apparatus of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of associated apparatus;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary front elevation on an enlarged scale, of aportion of the apparatus of the preceding views;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation of part of the same apparatus, taken at VIVIon FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a front sectional elevation, taken at VII-VII on FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a side sectional elevation, taken at VIIIVIII on FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a detail sectional plan, taken at IXIX on FIG. 7; and

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary schematic representation of the portion of theapparatus below the crimper entrance and wherein the strand is shownbeing guided by the opposing streams of fluid.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In general, the objects of thepresent invention are accomplished, in a stutfer crimper for a strand oftextile material, having a stuffing chamber with an entrance and an exitand having a pair of nip rolls juxtaposed to the chamber entrance tofeed thereinto textile material to be crimped, by means forming a mainconduit for conducting a cooling fluid into contact with the cylindricalsurface of at least one, preferably both, of the feed rolls and by atleast one pair of subsidiary branch conduits which are opposed forconducting said fluid into contact with opposite sides of the strandabove the nip of said rolls and below said entrance.

FIG. 1 shows, schematically, strand unwinding from conical package 11 topass through guide 12 and successive pairs of rolls 13, 13' and 15, 15'with heater bar 14 for the strand intervening between the respectivepairs of rolls. Pair of nip rolls 17, 17' for feeding the strand intostutfing chamber 18 follow immediately after temperature controller 16,which contains conventional sensing and heating means for ascertainingand, if desired, increasing the strand temperature close to the rollnip. Crimped strand 10' is wound up from the exit of the chamber ontocylindrical package 20 by grooved traversing drive roll 19.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show, in plan and side elevation, respectively, stuffercrimping apparatus according to this invention in more detail than inthe preceding view. The strand is shown in FIG. 3 but is omitted fromFIG. 2 in the interest of clarity. Stufling chamber 18 and associatedparts are supported by inverted U-frarne 22. Axles 27, 27 for rolls 17,17' are journaled in opposite legs of the frame and carry at theiropposite end gears 37, 37' in mesh with one another, and axle 27'carries driven pulley 29 also. Drive pulley 33, which is interconnectedto the driven pulley by belt 34, is on drive shaft 32 of motor 31mounted on the frame. Tubes 38, 38' enter the external wall of chamber18 at the left and right, respectively, above rolls 17, 17'. Front andrear flanges 18a, 18b extend downward from the bottom of the chamber tocover the adjacent faces of the respective rolls somewhat further thanthe nip. Tubes 60, enter the flanges 18a, 18b, respectively, above thenip 67 of rolls 17, 17'.

FIG. 4 shows schematically means for the supply of cooling fluid viatubes 38, 38, 60, and 60', which join at line 39. Each tube ispreferably provided with an adjustable fluid control valve 61, 62, 63and 63, respectively. Housing 41, with which line 39 communicates, issupplied with cooling fluid through the tube 42 from pump 43. Gages 44and 46 in the upstream and downstream portions of line 39, with respectto intervening regulating valve 45, indicate the pressure in housing 41and in line 39, respectively. Inside the housing is baflie 49 (indicatedin broken lines) to assist in preventing entry of moisture orcontaminants into line 39, and the housing has bleed valves 47, 47' atthe bottom. Also indicated in broken lines inside the housing is coolingcoil 51, which connects externally to compressor 52, forming part of aconventional heat exchanger not otherwise illustrated.

FIGS. 5 to 9 show on an enlarged scale portions of the apparatus of thisinvention in the vicinity of the junction of tubes 38, 38' to stuflingchamber 18, and of tubes 60, "60 to the entrance of the chamber 18, insuccessive front elevation, side elevation, front sectional elevation,side sectional elevation, and sectional plan views. Vents 58a, 58a arevisible in front flange 18a, while like vents 58b, 58b are indicated inrear flange 18b. The vents interconnect ventilating passages 59, 59',which receive coolant fluid through tubes 38, 38', to the exterior nearthe edge of the cylindrical roll surfaces betwe n which the 4 strand isnipped to be stuffed into chamber 18. The respective vents are spacedabout one radian of rotation past the roll nip 67. The ventilatingpassages are only a few degrees wide in the circumferential directionalong the cylindrical surfaces of the rolls and extend the entire widththereof to terminate slightly beyond the edges. The ventilating passagesare lined with suitable heat-insulating material to preclude affectingthe temperature of the stufling chamber or the strand therein, which maybe controlled as in my aforementioned patent applications.

Tube 60 is visible entering front flange 18a, and tube 60' is visibleentering rear flange 18b. Tubes 60, 60 form passages 64, 64' throughflanges 18a, 18b of the stulfing chamber housing and conduct opposingstreams of cooling fluid from line 39 along the rolling surfaces ofrolls 17, 17' parallel to the axes and nip of the rolls. As may be seenby reference to FIG. 8 in conjunction with FIG. 10, the opposing streamsof cooling fluid from tubes 60, 60' impinge against heated strand 10 asit emerges from the nip between rolls 17, 17. The opposing streams causestrand 10 to stay in a substantially straight path from the nip of rolls17, 17' directly into the entrance 65 of the stufling chamber 18, shownbroken away in FIG. 8 for purposes of clarity. As soon as the incomingportion of strand 1t) enters the entrance 65, the strand impingesagainst the accumulated wad of crimped strand in the chamber 18 and isitself crimped. The cooling fluid from tubes 60, 60' serves also toremove heat from the strand 10 and rolls 17, 17', particularly in theregion immediately adjacent to the point at which the strand emergesfrom between the rolls, i.e., at the nip. The strand and roll surfacesare controlled at a temperature which will maintain the strand and rollsunder nonadhering conditions, but adequate for crimping conditions. Thecooling fluid from around strand 10 is swept, for the most part, by therotation of the rolls 17, 17' upwardly into ventilating passages 59, 59and mixes there with the cooling fluid from tubes 38, 38' and themixture escapes through vents 58a, 58a, 58b, and 58b.

The flow of cooling fluid from line 39 to tubes 38, 38', 60, and 60',respectively is preferably apportioned among the tubes by means ofcontrol valves 61, 62, 63, and 63, respectively. Flow gages, e.g.,rotameters, not shown, also preferably are mounted in each tube betweenthe valve and the outlet of the tube. The flow rates of cooling fluidflowing to the outlets of tubes 60, 60' are readily determined and areset within operating ranges which will be adequate to hold strand 10 ina non-traversing position between the two outlets. These flow rates mustbe great enough to create a fluid pressure at least adequate to keep theheated strand 10 from collapsing under lengthwise forces and preferablysuflicient to overcome adhesion of the strand to the roll surfaces inthe event the strand surface should become tacky from overheating. Theflow rates, or defined in another way, the fluid forces, from tubes 60,60' will be adequately set for practice of the invention at the flowrates, or fluid forces or pressures, which maintain the moving strand 10in a snag-free condition and in a straight path between rolls 17, 17 andchamber entrance 65.

The flow rates of cooling fluid to tubes 38, 38' may then readily be setat rates at least adequate to perform such additional cooling as isrequired to maintain rolls 17, 17' under controlled temperatureconditions.

While in the preferred embodiment described above, the flow rates fromthe outlets of tubes 38, 38, 60, and 60' are controlled by means ofvalves and flow meters, it will be clear to one skilled in the art thatthe flow rates also can be controlled under fixed conditions withoutinstrumentation by selecting suitable tube diameters and flow nozzlesfor tubes 60, 60' and tubes 38, 38, respec tively, to obtain desiredratios of flow rates between the first and second sets of tubes andequal flow rates in tubes 60, 60.

The flow nozzles for tubes 60, 60' are preferably a V jet type of nozzlewhich projects a relatively narrow, fanshaped fluid stream against thestrand 10. The nozzles preferably are aligned with their V notchesparallel to each other and perpendicular to the nip of rolls 17, 17.

While the tubes 60, 60 are shown extending only to the sides of rolls17, 17', it will be advantageous in some cases to extend the outlets ofthe tubes 60, 60' inwardly parallel to the axes and above the nip of therolls into closer proximity to the strand 10.

It will be understood that any appropriate cooling fluid or coolant maybe used, which may be simply cool air or may be carbon dioxide,nitrogen, or other fluid that is gaseous and dry at the temperature ofthe strand so that liquid does not collect in the apparatus. The fluidis cooled to desired temperature, as in housing 41, and dried thereby(or otherwise) if necessary, as after having been pumped thereinto fromthe atmosphere or other suitable source. It then proceeds via line 39,past gages 44 and 46 and valve 45, through tubes 38, 38 into ventilatingpassages 59, 59, and through tubes 60, 60 into the area below thestuffing chamber entrance 65, wherein, in each instance, it comes intocontact with and cools the cylindrical surfaces of rolls 17, 17, afterwhich it exhausts through vents 58a, 58a, 58b, 5812.

By conventional temperature sensing means (not shown) the temperatureand overall flow rate of the cooling fluid can be regulated inaccordance with a desired strand temperature, such as a temperature towhich the strand was preheated for crimping, so that the strand isneither heated nor cooled by contact with the nip rolls stufling it intothe chamber for temporary confinement therein under crimping compressionand possibly under a continuation of the same temperature, as prescribedin my aforementioned patent application. Of course, the rolls can beregulated to other temperatures if desired.

While preferred embodiments of the present invention have beenillustrated and described, some modifications have been suggested.Additionally, other modifications may be made, as by adding, combining,or subdividing parts or steps or by substituting equivalents, whileretaining at least some of the benefits and advantages of the invention.

The claimed invention:

1. In a stutter crimper for textile material having a stufiing chamberincluding a housing with an entrance and an exit and having a pair ofnip rolls juxtaposed to the chamber entrance to feed thereinto textilematerial to be crimped, and comprising means forming a main conduit forconducting a cooling fluid into contact with the cylindrical surfaces ofat least one of the feed rolls, the improvement comprisingstrand-guiding branch conduit means associated with said main conduitfor conducting at least part of said cooling fluid in at least twoseparate opposed streams of substantially equal forces or flow ratesparallel to the nip of said rolls into the region between said chamberentrance and said rolls.

2. Stuifer crimper according to claim 1, wherein the main conduit meansis in part integral with the housing of the stufling chamber.

3. Stuffer crimper according to claim 1, wherein the main conduitcommunicates with the cylindrical roll sur- 6 face over essentially theentire width thereof parallel to the roll axis.

4. Stuifer crimper according to claim 1, wherein the main conduitcommunicates with the cylindrical roll surface over an acute arcuateportion thereof.

5. Stuffer crimper according to claim 1, wherein the main conduitcommunicates with the cylindrical roll surface along a locus about oneradian of roll rotation past the nip.

6. Stuffer crimper according to claim 1, wherein the main conduitcommunicates with an adjacent portion of at least one flat surface ofthe roll as well as with the cylindrical surface thereof.

7. Stulfer crimper according to claim 1, wherein the chamber has flangesextending therefrom overlapping flat surfaces of the rolls to at leastthe nip, and the main con duit terminates within the flanges andcommunicates with the surrounding atmosphere at the terminus thereof.

8. Stulfer crimper according to claim 1, wherein said strand guidingbranch conduit means comprises at least one pair of branch conduitsleading from said main conduit, one branch conduit having its outletlocated alongside one end of said rolls and the other branch conduithaving its outlet located alongside the other end of said rolls, saidoutlets being arranged with their longitudinal axes lying in a line inthe same plane and facing each other after the nip of said rolls andbefore the stuffing chamber.

9. Stuffer crimper according to claim 8, wherein said outlets areprovided with V jet nozzles, said nozzles being aligned with their Vnotches parallel to each other and perpendicular to the nip of saidrolls.

10. Stuifer crimper according to claim 8, wherein said strand-guidingbranch conduit means is in part integral with the housing of thestufling chamber.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,253,314 5/1966 Shattuck281.7(XR) 3,259,953 7/1966 Baer 2872.14(XR) 3,305,897 2/ 1967 Meibohm2872.14 3,389,445 6/1968 Schrefller 2872.14(XR) 2,846,729 8/1958 Sonnino281.6(XR) 2,862,279 12/1958 Pardon et al. 28-1.6 3,160,941 12/1964Williamson 28-l.6 3,220,083 11/1965 Crawford et al. 28l.6 3,248,770 5/1966 Shattuck et al 281.7 3,249,979 5/1966 Stephens et al. 281.63,396,443 8/ 1968 Stanley 281.6 3,429,015 2/1969 McClure 281.6

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,452,774 8/1966 France 2872.14

ROBERT R. MACKEY, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

